my neighbor totoro

Friday Cooper was off of school. So I decided to take him to the children's museum. I think he had gone there once with his mother when we first moved to Minnesota, but I had never been there. Also, I wanted to go while the Jump to Japan exhibit was still there so we could see totoro.

We had a great time at the museum. Every room was his favorite until we went to the next room. The last room we were at was the city, where Cooper got to be a mailman and a police officer.

After 4 hours at the museum we went to the Mall of America to eat at one of Cooper's favorite restaurants, the Rain Forest Cafe.



I realize this is our last outing with Cooper as an only child. So I have been doing some reflecting on the last 6 years. The first 18 months in Louisville that I basically slept walked though. Our little 2 bedroom house with our horrible neighbor. Moving to Illinois and officially being not just the primary care giver, but a stay-at-home dad. Finding out a lot of people consider that to be an "alternative" lifestyle. Our church family there. Our house that was much too big and formal for our life style. The grumpy old neighbor who wouldn't make eye contact with us. Being close to family and being able to celebrate holidays with extended family.

It has been a long journey to get to the point we are at today. I don't know where it goes from here. But soon we add a new life to our family. And it seems like other worries are starting to melt away. Maybe this will help me refocus on what is really important. With one child gown to school age I may understand my roll as a stay-at-home dad better this go around.

I am a stay-at-home dad. It is my job. It may not be the norm, it may seem foreign to some, but it is my job. And I want to do the best at it I can.